ST. JOHN DE LA SALLE CATHOLIC ACADEMY
OUR TEAM
Sally Santellano
Principal
Principal Santellano's is starting her 5th year as a school leader. Her passion for education began when she was a volunteer in Kingston Jamaica through the Passionist Volunteers International Program. Through this program she spent a year supporting families in the Kingston community. There she witnessed the transformative power of education and committed herself to the profession of teaching. She joins the St. John de la Salle community after holding various teaching and leadership positions for 13 years in the Diocese of Gary. In 2005, Mrs. Santellano was honored with the Teacher of Excellence Award in East Chicago and in 2017 she received Most Inspiring Teacher Award in Hammond. In 2018, she was awarded the Grace Under Pressure award in the Archdiocese of Chicago. When she is not at school, Principal Santellano likes to play basketball, swim, sing and spend quality time with her loving husband and three kids.
Janice Wills
Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Janice Wills has worked for the Archdiocese of Chicago for 26 years in a variety roles including Administrative Assistant, Food Service and Before and After Care Coordinator. Mrs. Wills is happily married to Mr. Richard Wills, former Maintenance Supervisor here at SJDLS. Mrs. Wills is proud that 5 of her 6 children attended both Catholic Grammar and High School. She has 11 beautiful grandbabies and one great-grandchild! She loves coming to work every day with the St. John students and families.
Fr. Kiiguta
Pastor
Father Kiiguta has been the pastor at St. John de la Salle for 9 years. Father has a passion for education from Chicago to the school he started in his hometown in Tanzania.
Angeline Williams
Preschool Instructor
Hello, my name is Angeline Williams and this will be my second year at St. John De La Salle Catholic Academy. I was born in Detroit Michigan, but I’ve lived in Chicago almost my entire life. I’ve taught Infants and Toddlers, Two’s, pre-K, and College students, and I’ve worked as an Adult Educator. I bring with me more than 20 years of teaching, education administration, and program design experience. In addition to my work experience, I have a BS in Mass Communication, a MS in Human Service Management and Administration, and I'm working to complete my dissertation for my Ed. D in Educational Leadership and Organizational Change, from Roosevelt University. In addition to these achievements, I have been a wife for 23 years and a mother to 3 beautiful children (21, 20 and 13).
Keyaria Whitney
Preschool Instructional Assistant
and Before Care Coordinator
Ms. Whitney has been the Preschool aide at SJDLS for 6 years. She has also been the After-Care supervisor, substitute teacher, and goes wherever she is needed! Ms. Whitney is the Cheerleading Coach. In her spare time, Ms. Whitney likes to do hair, and volunteers her time to help the community. Ms. Whitney is an aunt to many nieces and nephews who she loves to spend time with. She enjoys playing games and working with young people.
Mary Pat Bertrand
Kindergarten
Mrs. Bertrand is our Kindergarten teacher. She came to us in 2016 after the closing of St. Florian. She has 35 years of Archdiocesan experience in Pre-K and K and we value her expertise! Mrs. Bertrand has 2 adult daughters who are proud graduates of Catholic schools, and one new grandson, born in August.
Lauren Duffy
1st Grade
"I received my B.S. degree in Education at the University of Alabama. I am currently working on my Masters at Saint Xavier University with an endorsement in Elementary Education. Before coming to SJDL, I was working as a substitute teacher for Summit Hill district 161. I love spending time with my three younger brothers and anything Disney. I am so excited to be teaching at SJDLS!
Wayne Hughes
2nd Grade
Wayne Hughes Jr was born and raised on the southeast side of Chicago. He taught 5th grade at St. Helen School in the Ukrainian Village area on the west side of Chicago. He has his bachelors degree in elementary education from Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa and is currently attending Chicago State University pursing his masters degree in higher education administration. He is a sports fanatic and considers himself a die hard Chicago Bears and Bulls fan!
Constance Hudson
1st and 2nd grade aide, After Care Coordinator
Mrs. Hudson has worked at St. John de la Salle for over 11 years in a variety of roles: Pre-K and Kindergarten Aide, After School Care Coordinator, Substitute Teacher, Before School coordinator, as well as coordinating the Mother-Son and the Father-Daughter dances in the spring! Before her time here, she worked throughout the Archdiocese teaching and assisting. Ms. Hudson can be found all over St. John assisting wherever needed. When asked what she loves most about St. John de la Salle, Mrs. Hudson replied, "Kids- I love all kids!" In her life outside of SJDLS, Mrs. Hudson has 4 grown children and 8 grandchildren.
Tanisha Randolph
3rd and 4th Grade
Tanisha Randolph was born and raised in the city of Chicago. She has a B.A. from Chicago State University and has taught for both public and private institutions for 20 years Favorite educational quote:
“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.” -Albert Einstein
Damani McClellan
7th-8th Science and History
Mr. McClellan is a graduate of Roosevelt University, with a B.A. in Psychology and minor in Biology. Before entering the education field, he worked in clinical research, examining chronic illnesses. Mr. McClellan joins us from teaching at Marya Yates Elementary school in the south suburbs. He will be entering his first year as Assistant Principal. In 2021, he was awarded Hero of the School from the Archdiocese of Chicago. He provides consultation nationally on the topic of Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
Christina Laucello
7th Grade Homeroom, 5th-8th English and Language Arts
Ms. Laucello is an adjunct professor at Truman College for English and taught English and Theology at Holy Cross Academy in Oneida, New York.
Bernard Louis
Jr. High Math
Bernard Louis is a mathematics essentials teacher and tutor at Sylvan Learning Institute. An uninterrupted Catholic Education along with a quest for number sense, problem solving and geometry guided my passion to teach at Chicago public and Charter schools along with coaching basketball. Honors society, robotics, neighborhood beautification, table games, music and mentoring are some pastime activities. Bringing my expertise to St. John de la Salle Catholic Academy is sight with vision. God will guide me to assist in molding our future math wizards.
Señora Ortega
Spanish
Senora spends the summer working with children in need in her native Ecuador. Senora is working to teach all of our students Spanish in grades PK-8, as well as starting an after-school Spanish Club.
Mr. McCottrell
Physical Education Teacher
I was born in Bellville, Illinois(Just outside of East St. Louis, IL). Growing up I loved sports and played in the marching band. I was a big kid so the tuba fit me perfectly. At the age of 15 I went to the Million Man March in D.C. on October 16th 1995 hosted by the great Louis Farrakhan. It was one of many defining moments in my life. After highschool, I accepted a full football scholarship from Eastern Illinois University and played alongside Tony Romo (Soon to be Dallas Cowboys Quarterback). We won the Conference Championship and I received my letterman jacket and a NCAA Conference Championship Ring. Soon, I ran away to Chicago with my college sweetheart, got married, and started a wonderful family that I am so proud of. Today, I am part of a bigger family in St. John and I love it.
Ms. Hull joins us from teaching in Altgeld Gardens and Gary, Indiana. Students and parents can find more info about her homework and classwork on:
https://www.misshullsclass.com/